New Delhi: The Indian Railways traction upgrades programme has received a major push after the Government of India approved infrastructure projects worth over ₹765 crore to modernise railway operations across key corridors.
The projects include upgrading electric traction systems on high-density routes and expanding the digital communication backbone through optical fibre networks.
Details of Indian Railways Traction Upgrades
The Ministry of Railways has approved multiple infrastructure and technology upgradation projects worth more than ₹765 crore.
The key objectives include:
- Increasing railway line capacity
- Improving traction power systems
- Strengthening digital communication networks
- Supporting faster passenger and freight operations
These projects focus on two major railway corridors and a large communication upgrade across Western Railway divisions.
Upgrade of Electric Traction System on Duvvada–Visakhapatnam–Vizianagaram Section
One of the largest components of the project is the ₹318.07 crore upgrade of the electric traction system on the 106-km Duvvada–Visakhapatnam–Vizianagaram section under East Coast Railway.
Key Highlights
- Existing system: 1×25 kV electric traction
- New system: Advanced 2×25 kV traction system
- Corridor length: 106 km
- Budget allocation: ₹318.07 crore
Importance of Indian Railways Traction Upgrades
This railway section lies on the busy Howrah–Chennai main route, which is crucial for transporting minerals and industrial goods from Odisha and Chhattisgarh to Visakhapatnam Port.
The new traction system will:
- Increase power supply capacity
- Allow higher freight loading
- Improve train speed potential
- Enhance operational reliability
This will help both freight trains and passenger services operate more efficiently on one of the country’s busiest rail corridors.
₹259.39 Crore Traction Upgrade for Raichur–Guntakal Section
Another major upgrade involves the 126-km Raichur–Guntakal railway section, which runs through Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Project Details
- Total cost: ₹259.39 crore
- Corridor length: 126 km
- Upgrade: 1×25 kV to 2×25 kV traction system
Strategic Importance
This section lies on the Mumbai–Chennai railway route, a major passenger and freight corridor.
The upgrade will:
- Improve traction power supply
- Support heavier freight trains
- Enable faster passenger services
- Facilitate operations of modern trains such as Vande Bharat
It will also contribute to Indian Railways’ broader target of achieving 3,000 million tonnes of freight loading while improving network efficiency.
₹187.88 Crore Optical Fibre Communication Expansion
Indian Railways has also sanctioned ₹187.88 crore to strengthen the digital communication backbone in the Vadodara and Mumbai Central divisions of Western Railway.
What the Project Includes
- Installation of 4×48 core Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) backbone
- Coverage of 1,000 route kilometres
Breakdown of cable installation:
- 692 km in Vadodara Division
- 308 km in Mumbai Division
Benefits of the OFC Network
The optical fibre network will:
- Increase bandwidth and communication speed
- Improve network reliability and redundancy
- Support LTE-based railway systems
- Enable effective implementation of Kavach, India’s indigenous train collision avoidance system
This digital infrastructure will strengthen railway safety and improve real-time communication across the network.
Benefits of Indian Railways Traction Upgrades
The sanctioned projects are expected to deliver several operational improvements:
1. Higher Freight Capacity: Upgraded traction systems will allow heavier freight trains, improving logistics efficiency.
2. Faster Passenger Trains: Better power supply and improved signalling systems will allow faster train operations.
3. Stronger Digital Railway Network: Expanded fibre-optic infrastructure will improve railway communication and safety systems.
4. Support for Modern Train Technologies: Projects will support technologies like Kavach and Vande Bharat operations.
Overall, these investments will help Indian Railways handle growing passenger demand and freight movement while enhancing operational reliability.
